You can deal with everything, including grouchy customers coming in five nanoseconds before closing. Prove it with this tasty and professional food service resume sample.
Every day in food service is a blend of chaos and creativity, where you juggle orders, charm customers, and maintain a calm under pressure. You know how to make every meal a memorable experience, but can you make your resume just as unforgettable?
With the right ingredients, we’ll help you cook up a food service resume that showcases your talents and dedication.
In this guide:
25+ food service resume examples better than most.
How to write a resume for food service jobs that satisfies.
How to cook up the perfect food service job description for resumes.
Why you can’t just list food service skills (and what to do instead).
I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your resume.” Patrick
I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work! Dylan
My previous resume was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful! George
Cheerful server and manager with 8+ years of experience. Seeking to create a memorable dining experience at B-Sides Barbecue. At The Satiated Satyr, managed 17 servers, raising staff retention 25% through improved communication. Recruited and trained 10 new employees. Presided over a period of 30% more repeat business.
Experience
Head Server
The Satiated Satyr Food Service
2013–2019
Managed 17 servers and bartenders in fast-paced, chef-owned food service. Increased retention 25% through better communication.
Used interpersonal skills to build strong relationships with staff and customers. Presided over 30% increase in repeat business.
Ordered all wine, liquor, coffee, tea, and bar supplies. Worked with bar vendors to cut inventory costs by 15%.
Hired and trained 10 new staff members.
Conducted quarterly reviews. Worked with employees on efficiency and attitude. Result: increased customer satisfaction scores by 35%.
Handled bookkeeping and payroll. Kept register errors near zero.
Waitress
The Muddy Keel
2011–2013
Waited tables in high-volume food service. Attained 95% average in customer comment card scores.
Regularly pooled out with highest tips of entire team.
Commended by manager for cool head during busiest shifts. Often organized enough to help flustered servers catch up.
Regularly volunteered for unpopular tasks like cleaning restrooms.
Education
Millikan High School
2007–2011
Voted boys choice of sister.
Girl's lacrosse co-captain.
Classes
Bartender Certification - PBSO Bartending School.
Leadership Manager Training - Dale Carnegie
Additional Activities
Volunteer cook 2x per month Silver Street Soup Kitchen.
Mentor 2 at risk girls.
Lead yoga classes 2x per week to 18 students.
Hard Skills:Recruiting, scheduling, inventory, quarterly reviews, MS Office
2. Write a Tempting Food Service Resume Objective or Summary
You wouldn’t eat a mystery-meat sandwich. Why would they read a mystery-meat resume?
Appetize them with a resume profile (in the form of a resume summary or resume objective). Put it near the top of your food service worker resume. (Write it last so you’ll have plenty of ingredients.)
Include:
An adjective (cheerful, efficient)
Years of experience (1+, 9+)
How/who you’ll help (create memorable dining experiences at B-Side Barbecue)
Best food service moments (trained 10 employees...)
A couple job skills (serving, POS systems...)
These food service resume examples give the menu:
Food Service Resume Summary—Example
Server Example
Efficient server with 3+ years of experience. Seeking to promote a positive dining experience at Pizza Hut. At The Chicken Coop, was named employee of the month 3x thanks to efficient service. Maintained 93% positive comment scores. Regularly volunteered for unpopular duties like cleaning the bathrooms and walk-in.Manager Example
Profit-focused food service manager with 8+ years of experience. Seeking to create a memorable dining experience at B-Sides Barbecue. At The Satiated Satyr, managed 24 servers, cooks, and support staff, raising retention 25% through improved communication. Presided over a period of 30% increase in repeat business.Cook Example
Cool-headed cook with 5+ years of experience. Seeking to wow guests with memorable meals delivered fast at the Frangible Frog. At The Lobster Pound, reversed a 3-year streak of customer complaints. Won a favorable review in Time Out magazine for excellent food quality. Received 20+ compliments from waitstaff for being easy to work with.
Those food service worker resume samples show delicious restaurant achievements. No matter your job title, think—What does this restaurant manager want most? And what’s the proof I’ve done it?
But what about resumes for food service jobs with no experience? These entry-level food service resume examples serve it up:
Entry-Level Food Service Resume Objective
Barista Example
Personable barista with skills in POS operation and customer service. Seeking to give service with a friendly smile at Starbucks. Awarded district high-satisfaction rating as server at McDonald’s. Called by manager, “The most efficient employee we’ve ever had.”Cook Example
Speedy line cook with skills in food prep and safe food handling. Seeking to prepare fast meals to company policy at Chili’s. As volunteer cook at Front Street Soup Kitchen, prepped 20% faster than other volunteers without a safety incident.Waitress Example
Enthusiastic waitress with outstanding interpersonal skills. Seeking to provide an excellent dining experience at The Down Under. President of the Debate Club at Worcester West High School. Served sheet cake for 8-hour shifts at the Weston County Fair, 5 days straight the past 3 years.
Those food service resume examples prove interpersonal skills, efficiency, and more. To do that, think when you used those skills to do big things. Even debate club leadership can prove interpersonal skills.
Expert Hint: The median food service manager salary in the US is $49,139. There are six-figure managers, but to get those jobs you need a custom-fit resume.
The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.
Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now.
3. Sweeten Your Food Service Worker Job Description
What skills go in a food service resume? See this list:
Food Service Skills for a Resume
Customer Service
Quality Control
Food Safety
Physical Stamina
Communication Skills
Teamwork
Listening Skills
Handling Money
Multitasking
Interpersonal Skills
Efficiency
Time Management
Problem Solving
Good Attitude
Attention to Detail
Here are skills for different food service professions:
Cook Skills
Food Prep
Quality Control
Food Safety
Stocking
Knife Skills
Ordering
Cleaning
Plating
Timing Food Orders
Sauces
Server Skills
Customer Service
POS Systems
Food Safety
Restocking
Cleaning
Vacuuming
Making Drinks
Writing Specials Boards
Memorizing Specials
Describing Entrees
Barista Skills
POS
Latte Frother
Bean Grinders
Specials Board Writing
Food Safety
Bartender Skills
POS Systems
Serving Drinks
Mixing Drinks
Closing Cash Registers
Restocking
Barbacking
Building Relationships
Drink Knowledge
Serving Wine
Cleaning
Chef Skills
Infrared Broilers
Gas Ranges
Beef Grinders
Managing Waitstaff
Sauces
Food Prep
Knife Skills
Explaining Specials
Plating
Desserts
But watch out: Only list a few. And prove those few.
To write a food service worker job description for resumes:
Hand-pick your resume skills from the help wanted ad.
See these food service resume examples. Say the job ad wants these food service skills: creating themed cocktails, wine knowledge, training, listening to customers.
Food Service Worker Job Descriptions for Resumes [Samples]
Bartender Example
Experience
Bartender
The Cockeyed Clam
2013–2019
Mixed drinks, prepped, opened, and closed in busy waterfront bar.
Created 200+ themed cocktails for specials board. Increased customer engagement and foot traffic by 20%.
Curated regional wines. Result: 22% increase in annual liquor sales.
Trained 3 other bartenders. Raised staff retention 25%.
Assisted with redesign of bar menu and drink menu based on listening to customers. Increased weekly revenue an average of $1,500.
Now here’s a food service manager resume example.
It needs skills in managing, interpersonal skills, ordering, and hiring:
Server Manager Example
Experience
Head Server
The Satiated Satyr Food Service
2013–2019
Managed 17 servers and bartenders in fast-paced, chef-owned food service. Increased retention 25% through better communication.
Used interpersonal skills to build strong relationships with staff and customers. Presided over 30% increase in repeat business.
Ordered all wine, liquor, coffee, tea, and bar supplies. Worked with bar vendors to cut inventory costs by 15%.
Hired and trained 10 new staff members.
Next, a cook food service resume example.
It needs efficiency, interpersonal skills, plating, and desserts:
Cook Example
Experience
Cook
The Paisley Onion
2013–2019
Worked as key cook in upscale farm-to-table food service.
Maintained efficient 99% on-time prep score even during high-volume shifts.
Recognized by management for interpersonal skills.
Used expert cooking and plating skills to contribute to a 5-year period of 97% customer satisfaction scores.
Written up favorably in Downeast Magazine for excellent desserts.
See the game? Learn what they need. Then show you’ve done it. Kind of like satisfying restaurant customers.
Let’s move on to entry-level resumes. Say the job wants these food service skills: customer service, POS, interpersonal skills, and efficiency.
See this entry-level food service resume example with no experience:
Entry-Level Food Service Resume Job Descriptions [Samples]
Server Example
Team Member
Parson’s Clothing
2018–2019
Recognized by store manager for customer service skills.
Operated POS system 15+ hours per week with zero errors.
Used expert interpersonal skills to interact with customers. Received 3 personal letters for cheerful disposition.
Consistently finished stocking duties 20 minutes faster than coworkers. Commended by shift supervisor for efficiency.
Now here’s a cook food service worker resume example.
Expert Hint: The best city to be a waiter is Seattle. Servers there make an average of $18.07 per hour. The competition is hot. Your fast food service resume must cook.
4. Put More Meat in Your Education Section
You don’t need an education section in a food service resume. Do you?
Well, yes. But don’t think of it like that. It’s just a way to show more skills that wow them. This food service resume example shows how:
Food Service Resume Example—Education
Good Example
Education
Millikan High School
2007–2011
Voted boys choice of sister.
Girl's lacrosse co-captain.
The point? That example used education to show teamwork and leadership.
5. Put Add-ons in Your Food Service Resume
“We’ve got to hire this one.” Getting food service managers to say that doesn’t come from work experience alone. Put add-ons in your food service resume to tease your skills. Try these:
Volunteer cook 2x per month Silver Street Soup Kitchen.
Mentor 2 at risk girls.
Lead yoga classes 2x per week to 18 students.
Bad Example
Additional Activities
Regular soup kitchen volunteer.
Passionate about travel.
The first of those food service resume examples shows certifications, compassion, leadership, and fitness.
Expert Hint: Learn how to write a cover letter. Your food service worker resume will look more appetizing. Almost half of restaurant managers expect a cover letter with each resume.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Key Points
Here’s how to write a food service resume:
Use the food service resume template up top. It’s got all the right flavors to make management take notice.
Don’t just list food service skills. Customer service and interpersonal skills are necessary. But to get the job, show they helped the restaurant.
Your education section can upsell. Add skills proof in your bullets.
Add resume sections like classes or volunteer work to show your passion and tease skills.
Got questions on how to write great resumes for food service jobs? Not sure how to put food service on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!
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Having published over 200 career-advice articles, Tom Gerencer is a career expert who covers the whole array of job-seeking topics for people at all career stages, from interns to C-suite members. His insights, commentary, and articles reach over a million readers every month. With inside knowledge of key industry players and in-depth research, Tom helps job seekers with advice across all professions and career stages.